Container



July 7, 1942.

C. C. CONWAY, JR., E TAL CONTAINER Filed July 8, 1959 Patented July 7, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER Application July 8, 1939, Serial No. 283,478

1 Claim.

The invention relates generally to containers and primarily seeks to provide a novel container structure in which articles such as nuts and bolts or the like can be packaged for the market and.

which includes novel means for facilitating display of the products in the container and use of said products from the container.

In the conventional packaging of nuts and bolts or the like, these products are placed in the usual slip-over cover containers and it is necessary to remove the cover and replace the same each time it is desired to extract products from the container. The invention seeks to avoid this disadvantage by the provision of a container embodying a novel flap structure which is normally enclosed within the container and which can be extended, after removal of the slip cover, and positioned so as to leave an opening through which products in the container can be seen and readily withdrawn therefrom, and yet which is so positioned when extended as to enable the positioning of the container in the most convenient position for enabling sighting and extraction of products without danger of said products spilling out of the container.

In its more detailed nature the invention resides in the provision of a container structure, preferably of the square or oblong type, and which has a novel flap structure having side wing portions pivoted within the open mouth or neck of the container so that the whole flap can be enclosed within the container with the products therein, and which is so proportioned that it can be swung out of the container and engaged with the mouth or neck thereof so as to retain its extended position and provide a partial closure preventing spilling of contents from the container and an opening through which products in the container can be sighted and the hand can be readily inserted for withdrawing said products.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container of the nature stated including the usual form of slip-over cover and the grooved and beaded neck structure for receiving said cover, and a novel flap structure for forming a partial closure of said mouth and including a flange which may be extended outside the mouth in retaining frictional contact with said neck structure.

With the above and other objects in view which will more fully appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by following the description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of a container embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the container with the flap structure extended in full lines and collapsed within the containers in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section of the container taken through the neck portion thereof, the slip-over cover being removed. (See line 33 on Figure 1.)

Figure 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view illustrating the flap and container neck structure positioned as in Figure 2.

In the example of practical embodiment herein disclosed, the container is of more or less conventional oblong from including a body portion 5 having rounded corners 6, a bottom I, and a cover receiving neck 8 defined by the usual groove 9 and bead Ill. The open mouth of the container is normally closed by a slip-over cover II.

The structure thus far described is conventional and may be employed in the packaging and marketing of nuts and bolts or similar products designated I2.

Within the neck 8 of the container a product retaining flap is pivotally mounted. This flap is generally U-shaped and includes a base or body portion l3 and side wings or leg portions M, the latter being pivotally mounted as at [5 in the container neck. The upper edge portion of the flap structure [3, l4 preferably is turned over as at I6 so as to avoid presentation of raw edge portions for engagement by the hands of a user of the container.

It will be observed by reference to Figure 3 of the drawings that the body and wing portions l3 and [4 merge in rounded corners I1, and at its lower edge the body portion I3 is extended to form a container neck gripping flange [8. This flap flange extension I8 preferably includes a neck groove engaging edge portion 19, and it will be observed by reference to Figure 4 of the drawing that the lateral edge portions of the gripping flange I8 are angled as at 20 so as to avoid projection over the rounded corners of the container neck.

In use, the nuts and bolts or other products are filled into the container and are marketed with the flap collapsed within the container and the slip-over cover applied thereon as in Figure 1 of the drawing. In the store, for display purposes, or in the home for facilitating use, the

cover is removed and the flap is extended in the manner illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing. The flap portion I8 is springy or yieldable, since it extends freely beyond the connecting side wing members I4, and it can be extended outside the container neck in the manner illustrated in Figures 2 and 4 so that it will grip the neck of the container with retaining friction and with the bent extremity 19 thereof seated in the neck groove 9.

It will be observed by reference to Figure 4 of the drawing that the angling of the lateral portions of the flap 18 as at 20, and the rounding of the flap corners as at 11, causes the flap to snugly engage in the container neck and form a complete and neat closure of said neck at the bottom portion of the container. The upper or rolled edge portion [6 of the flap is so presented as to provide a free opening 2| through which prodnets in the container can be sighted and through which said products can be readily withdrawn.

While it is preferred that the container herein disclosed be manufactured of sheet metal, it will be observed that it can be composed of a combination of metal and paper parts. For example, the bottom could be formed of metal, the body and neck portion of paper, and the collapsible flap structure of metal if so desired. Herein the flap retaining flange or extension is disclosed as gripping the container neck externally, but it is to be understood that the invention broadly comprehends engagement by this flange portion or flap extension either internally or externally of the container.

It is, of course, to be understood that the details of structure and arrangement of parts may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A combined storage and display container comprising a body portion having parallel side members, a cover for closing said container for shipment, a retainer for partially closing said container for display consisting of a member extending from side to side of the container in a plane substantially at right angles thereto, wing members formed integral therewith and extending parallel to the side members of the container, said wing members extending into the container and pivoted to the side walls thereof adjacent one side of the contain-er, said wings being dimensioned so that the retainer may be moved into the container and completely housed therein when the cover is applied, and so that said retainer can be swung out of the container so as to bring the v inner edge of the member connected to the wings adjacent the outer edge of the container, said member having a yieldable projecting portion which may be sprung to a position to move into the container or to a position so as to contact with the outer surface of the container and hold said retainer in a fixed position extending from the container.

CARLE C. CONWAY, JR.

EDWARD E. BAKER 

